Welcome to VCN’s 2025 Common Agenda, the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. A collection of papers written by, vetted through, and voted on by VCN’s 170+ Network Partners, this briefing book explains the Commonwealth’s environmental policy background and potential opportunities for clean water & flood resilience, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance.
Our Common Agenda is published annually and widely circulated to policymakers, educational institutions, civic leaders, environmental advocates, and the public. No matter which of those categories you fit in, VCN looks forward to working with you on the topics in this book.
Our Common Agenda
CLEAN WATER & FLOOD RESILIENCE
- PREVENTING POLLUTED STORMWATER RUNOFF
- INVESTING IN WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS
- SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE FOR CLEAN WATER
- ENFORCING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
- STOPPING PFAS AT ITS SOURCE
- REDUCING WELL WATER NITRATE CONTAMINATION
- PREVENTING HARMS FROM METAL MINING
- PROTECTION FROM TOXIC COAL ASH
- ENSURING LONG-TERM FLOOD RESILIENCE
- BUILDING COASTAL RESILIENCY WITH LIVING SHORELINES
- SAFEGUARDING VIRGINIA’S WETLANDS
- DISCLOSING FLOOD RISK
- ELIMINATING PLASTIC POLLUTION
- PLASTIC-TO-FUEL: A FALSE SOLUTION
LAND & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
- LAND CONSERVATION BENEFITTING ALL VIRGINIANS
- PROTECTING HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES
- COMPOSTING FOR WASTE REDUCTION AND SOIL HEALTH
- PRESERVING WORKING FARMS AND FORESTS
- BUILDING A STRONG OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY
- INVESTING IN ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC LANDS FOR ALL
- CONNECTING WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
- PROTECTING MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES
- RESTORING THE OYSTER
- PROTECTING FRESHWATER MUSSELS
- MAXIMIZING TREE CANOPY
- PREVENTING HARMS FROM INVASIVE PLANTS
LAND USE & TRANSPORTATION
- SUSTAINABLE HOUSING GROWTH
- RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT
- TRANSFORMING TRANSPORTATION
- MODERNIZING PUBLIC TRANSIT
- EXPANDING RAIL
- SAVING PEDESTRIAN LIVES
- TRAILS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
- INCREASING ACCESS TO BIKING
CLIMATE & ENERGY
- ACHIEVING 100% CLEAN ENERGY
- REJOINING THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE
- ACCELERATING TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION
- DECARBONIZING BUILDINGS
- MAXIMIZING OFFSHORE WIND GENERATION
- LOWERING COSTS & POLLUTION WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- MAXIMIZING THE ROLE OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
- DEPLOYING LARGE-SCALE SOLAR WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES
- APPROACHING NUCLEAR AND HYDROGEN DEVELOPMENT WITH CAUTION
- PREVENTING PIPELINE HARMS
- RECLAIMING COAL MINES
GOOD GOVERNANCE
- IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
- ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
- CURBING ELECTRIC UTILITIES’ POLITICAL INFLUENCE
- SHIFTING UTILITIES’ INCENTIVES FOR EQUITY & AFFORDABILITY